On Tuesday last week, I was speaking at a senior center and then on Thursday, I had a meeting with a colleague to go over Muslim issues especially those relating to Muslim societies and states. Then, as I was reading comments posted on this blog I saw a common thread that runs through all my recent interactions with people and needs clarification. Specifically, it is about how to establish what is Islamic and what is not. …

Colin Powell’s frankness this week on NBC when he talked about a Muslim soldier from Fort Lewis who died in Iraq was a much-needed icebreaker that could help public figures start openly asserting that America is free of racism when it comes to Arabs and Muslims too. While talking about Republican party’s attempt to connect Obama with Muslim faith, Colin Powell clarified that he was a Christian, but then questioned: “Is there something wrong with being Muslim in this country? The answer is no. That … …